UNEMPLOYMENT FOR EX-OFFENDERS IN SRI LANKA HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIGH. THE EX-OFFENDERS HAVE ALSO FACED PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL STIGMATIZATION WHEN THEY DO FIND WORK. AN EXPERIMENT IN EMPLOYING THEM ALL TOGETHER FOR ONE PROJECT MAY OFFER A PARTIAL AND TEMPORARY SOLUTION. IN THIS INSTANCE IT INVOLVED HIRING THOSE WHO HAD CONSTRUCTION SKILLS TO BUILD A NEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. THE EXPERIMENT WORKED OUT WELL, AND THOUGHT WAS GIVEN TO EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO EX-OFFENDERS WITH OTHER SKILLS....BS